Brassiere strap fastening assembly

ABSTRACT

A brassiere strap fastening assembly for coupling together the straps of a brassier includes a fastener that is mountable to the straps. The fastener is attached to a fastener holder and a fastener receiver receives the fastener. The fastener receiver is arranged on a first face of the fastener holder. An ornamental structure is mounted to a second face of the fastener holder.

This application claims the benefit under Section 365 (c) of previously filed PCT International application PCT/IB2012/055361 (WO 2013/093656) filed Oct. 5, 2012 based upon HK 11112331.01 filed on Nov. 15, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to fastening devices and more particularly pertains to a new fastening device for coupling together different portions of clothing and in particular the shoulder straps of a brassiere.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a brassiere strap fastening assembly for coupling together the straps of a brassier includes a fastener that is mountable to the straps. The fastener is attached to a fastener holder and a fastener receiver receives the fastener. The fastener receiver is arranged on a first face of the fastener holder. An ornamental structure is mounted to a second face of the fastener holder.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a brassiere.

FIG. 1 a is a front in-use view of a brassiere strap fastening assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 a is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 b is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 c is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 d is a front view of a pair of fasteners of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 a is a front view of a fastener holder of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 b is a front view of fasteners of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 a is a front view a fastener holder of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 b is a front view of a pair of fastener of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a front and top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 a is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a front and top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 a is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 a thereof, a new fastening device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6 a, the brassiere strap fastening assembly generally comprises two fasteners 10 and a fastener holder 20, wherein the two fasteners 10 are mounted to their respective connecting straps 2′ of a brassiere generally shown in FIG. 1. One side of the fastener holder 20 forms a first face 20 a. The first face 20 a of the fastener holder is provided with a fastener receiver 21. The two fasteners 10 are engaged by their respective fastener receivers 21 so that the fasteners 10 can be mounted to the fastener holder 20. An ornamental structure 1 may be arranged on a second face of the fastener holder 20 opposite the first face 20 a. The fastening device of the present invention is configured to applying to different connecting straps of various kind of clothing. The fastening assembly may be applied to a brassiere as shown in the following examples of various embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1 a, the fastening device may be arranged on a connecting strap 1 between shoulder straps, fastening belts or brassiere cups.

As shown in FIG. 2 a, FIG. 2 b, FIG. 2 c and FIG. 2 d, in an embodiment of the present invention, the fastening assembly comprises two fasteners 10 and a fastener holder 20, wherein the two fasteners 10 have the same structure, both of which comprise a connecting portion 11 and a locking portion 12. The connecting portion 11 of the fastener is mounted to the connecting strap and the connecting portion 11 of the fastener may be of a closed-loop, ring-shaped structure. The locking portion 12 of the fastener comprises a connecting shaft 13 and a connecting plate 14, wherein the connecting shaft 13 is connected with the connecting portion 11 via the connecting plate 14 so that the connecting shaft 13 is fixed on the connecting portion 11. The connecting shaft 13 includes an end projection. A connecting shaft engages hole 23 and a connecting plate receiver 24 are arranged in the corresponding fastener receiver 21 of the fastener holder. The connecting shaft engages hole 23 and is configured to receive the connecting shaft 13. Further, the connecting plate receiver 24 is matched with the connecting portion 11. Specifically, the preferred length of the connecting portion 11 of the fastener on the axial direction of the connecting shaft 13 is smaller than the axial length of the connecting shaft 13. Moreover, the connecting plate 14 is connected and mounted in a center region of the connecting shaft 13 so that the connecting shaft 13 extrudes out relatively to the two ends of the connecting plate 14. The inner face of the connecting shaft engaging hole 23 of the fastener holder 20 has an aperture 23 a, wherein the aperture 23 a communicates and engaged with the connecting plate receiver 24 so that the connecting plate 14 of the fasteners 10 can rotate along the connecting shaft engaging hole 23 and can easily be received inside the connecting plate receiver 24.

In the above embodiment, the first face 20 a of the fastener holder is provided with two fastener receivers 21. The two fastener receivers 21 are arranged horizontally and are respectively engaged with the two fasteners 10. Specifically, the arrangement direction of the two fastener receivers 21 are vertical to the axial direction of the connecting shaft 13 so that the two fasteners 10 are arranged at the left side and the right side of the fastener holder 20.

During installation, the connecting shaft 13 of the fastener is respectively mounted to the connecting shaft engaging hole 23 of the corresponding fastener receive such that the connecting plate 14 slides in from the aperture. When the connecting shaft 13 is completely inserted into the connecting shaft engaging hole 23, the connecting plate 14 reaches the position of the connecting plate receiver 24. Typically, the whole fastener 10 is rotated taking the connecting shaft 13 as a rotating center so that the connecting plate 14 is received inside the connecting plate receiver 24. Thus the connecting portion 11 of the fastener 10 is received inside its respective fastener receiver 21 so that the fastener 10 and the fastener holder 20 are securely mounted with each other. When dismounting the fastener 10 from the fastener holder 20, the fastener 10 is first rotated disengage the connecting plate 14 from the connecting plate receiver 24 and allow the connecting plate 14 be rotated to the aperture 23 a. Thereafter the fastener 10 is slid along the connecting shaft engaging hole 23 in order to allow the connecting shaft 13 be removed from the connecting shaft engaging hole 23. As such, the fastener 10 is removable from the fastener holder 20.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 3 a and FIG. 3 b, the fastening device comprises two fasteners 10 and the fastener holder 20. The primary difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that two fastener receivers 21 positioned on the first face 20 a of the fastener holder 20 are vertically arranged and are respectively engaged with the two fasteners 10. The direction of arrangement of the two fastener receivers 21 is identical to the axial direction of a connecting shaft 13. As such, the two fasteners are still arranged at the left side and the right side of the fastener holder 20. A locking portion 12 of one fastener 10 is arranged at the upper part of one side of a connecting portion 11 while the locking portion 12 of another fastener 10 is arranged at the lower part of one side of the connecting portion 11. The locking portions 12 of the two fasteners 10 comprise a connecting plate 14 and a connecting shaft 13 as described in the first embodiment. The two fastener receivers 21 comprise a connecting shaft engaging hole 23 and a connecting plate receiver as described in the first embodiment.

The inner face of the connecting shaft engaging hole 23 comprises an aperture being communicated and corresponded with the connecting plate receiver 24 so that the connecting plate 14 can be received inside the connecting plate receiver 24 by passing through the aperture 23 a. To enable the two fasteners to possess interchangeability, the two fastener receivers 21 are preferably arranged at the first face 20 a of the fastener holder by way of circumferentially symmetrical array so that the two fasteners 10 can be engaged with any one of fastener receivers 21.

As shown in FIG. 4 a and FIG. 4 b, a third embodiment includes the fastening device comprising a fastener holder 20, a longitudinal positioning member 30 and two fasteners 10. The positioning member 30 may be comprised of plastic. The fastener 10 comprises a connecting portion 11 and a locking portion 12, wherein the locking portion 12 comprises a connecting shaft 13 and a connecting plate 14. A fastener receiver 21 is arranged on a first face 20 a of the fastener holder. The fastener receiver 21 comprises two connecting plate receivers 24 and two connecting shaft engaging holes 23. The two connecting plate receivers 24 are configured for receiving their respective connecting plates 14 of the fasteners 10. Two connecting shaft engaging holes 23 are engaged with their respective connecting shafts 13 of the fasteners 10. A concave region 23 b passing along the inner face or inner wall of the connecting shaft engaging hole 23 is arranged between the two connecting shaft engaging holes 23. Preferably, the longitudinal positioning member 30 is received inside the concave region 23 b and then forms a complete inner face or inner wall together with other part of inner wall of the connecting shaft engaging hole 23 in order to engage with the connecting shaft 13.

During installation, the two fasteners 10 are arranged at corresponding positions in the fastener receivers 21 so that the connecting shafts 13 of the fastener receivers 21 are corresponded with their respective connecting shaft engaging holes 23. The connecting plates 14 correspond with their respective connecting plate receivers 24. Further, the longitudinal positioning member 30 is put onto the concave region 23 b such that the connecting shafts 13 of the two fasteners are separated and clamped tightly in their respective connecting shaft engaging holes 23. Thus, the connecting shafts are held firmly inside the holes 23. The fasteners 10 are able to be securely mounted inside the fastener receivers 21.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 5 a, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, a fastener receiver 21 preferably comprises a positioning member for mounting a connecting plate to a fastener holder 20 for a purpose of avoiding a connecting shaft 13 to be detached from the fastener holder 20 during operation. Additionally, the connecting plate 14 comprises a positioning member receiver configured to receive the positioning member. Preferably, the positioning member is of a cylindrical structure. A convex structure is mounted to a side of the end portion of the positioning member. The positioning member receiver comprises a first positioning member receiver and a second positioning member receiver. Typically, the perimeter of the first positioning member receiver is larger than the perimeter of the convex structure of the first positioning member and the perimeter of the second positioning member receiver is smaller than the perimeter of the convex structure of the second positioning member.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 6 a, in the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the fastener receiver 21 of the fastener holder 20 further comprises a connecting shaft receiver configured to receive the end portions of the two connecting shafts 13 for a purpose of providing conveniences for a user to put the connecting shaft into the fastener receiver. The two connecting shaft receivers are arranged at the opposing side faces of the fastener holder 20. Further, a distance between the two opposing inner faces of the connecting shaft receiver is larger than the total diameter of the end portions of the two connecting shafts. The connecting shaft receiver comprises an aperture forming a passage for allowing the connecting shaft to pass through the aperture into the connecting shaft receiver.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A fastening device comprising: a fastener configured to be mounted on a connecting strap; a fastener holder; a fastener receiver configured to receive said fastener, said fastener receiver being arranged on a first face of the fastener holder; and an ornamental structure being mounted to a second face of said fastener holder.
 2. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein said fastener comprises a connecting portion configured to mount on the connecting strap and a locking portion configured to being received by the fastener receiver.
 3. The fastening device according to claim 2, wherein the fastener comprises a connecting shaft and a connecting plate, said connecting plate coupling the connecting portion and the connecting shaft.
 4. The fastening device according to claim 3, wherein an end projection is mounted to an end of the connecting shaft.
 5. The fastening device according to claim 4, wherein the fastener holder comprises a hole configured to receive the end projection of the connecting shaft.
 6. The fastening device according to claim 5, wherein one end of the end projection is facing a closed-loop structure of the connecting portion.
 7. The fastening device according to claim 3, wherein the fastener holder further comprises a connecting shaft engaging hole and a connecting plate receiver which are arranged in the fastener receiver.
 8. The fastening device according to claim 7, wherein the fastener receiver comprises at least four connecting shaft receiving holes.
 9. The fastening device according to claim 3, wherein the fastener receiver further comprises a positioning member configured to mount the fastener to the fastener holder, the positioning member is arranged inside the fastener receiver.
 10. The fastening device according to claim 9, wherein the connecting plate is mounted to an end of the positioning member.
 11. The fastening device according to claim 10, wherein the positioning member is made of plastic.
 12. The fastening device according to claim 3, wherein the length of the first side of the connecting plate adjacent to the connecting shaft is less than the length of the connecting shaft, the connecting plate is mounted to the middle of the connecting shaft.
 13. The fastening device according to claim 3, wherein the connecting plate is mounted to the middle of the connecting shaft.
 14. The fastening device according to claim 3, wherein the connecting plate is mounted to the end portion of the connecting shaft.
 15. The fastening device according to claim 7, wherein an aperture is arranged on an inner face of the connecting shaft receiving hole forming a passage to the connecting plate receiver, the connecting portion comprises a closed-loop structure configured to mount to the connecting strap.
 16. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the fastener holder comprises the fastener receiver, the fastener receiver being arranged on a first face of the fastener holder, the fastener receiver comprises two connecting shaft holes configured to receive two connecting shafts and two connecting plate receivers configured to receive two connecting plates, a concave region of a locking region being positioned arranged between the two connecting shaft holes, a longitudinal mounting member being removably mounted on the concave region and corresponding with faces of the connecting shaft holes.
 17. The fastening device according to claim 3, wherein the connecting plate is mounted to a first end portion of the connecting shaft, a locking member of the connecting shaft is mounted to a second end portion of the connecting shaft, the locking member is configured to couple the connecting shaft inside the fastener holder.
 18. The fastening device according to claim 3, wherein the fastener receiver comprises a positioning member configured to mount the connecting plate on a position of the fastening holder, a positioning member receiver on the connecting plate receives the positioning member.
 19. The fastening device according to claim 18, wherein the positioning member is a cylindrical structure, the positioning member comprising a convex structure mounted to a side of an end portion of the positioning member, the positioning member further comprising first and second positioning member receivers, a perimeter of the first positioning member receiver being larger than a perimeter of a convex structure of the first positioning member, a perimeter of the second positioning member receiver being less than a perimeter of a convex structure of the second positioning member.
 20. The fastening device according to claim 3, wherein the fastener receiver comprises a connecting shaft receiver configured to receive an end portion of the connecting shaft, two connecting shaft receivers being arranged on two opposing faces of the fastener holder, a distance between two opposing inner faces of a connecting shaft hole being larger than a diameter of the end portion of the connecting shaft, the connecting shaft receiver having an aperture therein forming a passage for allowing the connecting shaft to pass through the aperture and into the connecting shaft receiver. 